The 44-year-old victim was struck at Lexington Avenue and East 61st Street by a southbound vehicle just before 4:55 a.m.
He was rushed to New York Presbyterian Hospital in critical condition but died from his injuries.
Police say 33-year-old Vincent Spano backed into the victim with his truck and drove away.
Spano has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, and failure to exercise due care, leading to serious injury.
"It's sad. It really is early in the morning, you're just going home from your shift and then pass away like that," Sara Korshad said.
Korshad checked her shop's surveillance footage, but wasn't able to see what happened just steps from her door Friday morning.
The corner coffee cart operator also missed the actual incident.
"I just heard the ambulance... don't see any other things," the coffee cart operator said.
Police are still investigating.
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